Morning journal and courier., 1887-08-25
GROWERS OF FLOWERS.


GROWERS OF FLOWERS.
American FloriA ts' National Conven-
tion-The Third Annual Convention
Mt Chicago in the First Regiment
Infantry ArmOry-A Brilliant sue
Z cess-Notes of Members En- Route
of Flowers, Plants and
borrowers, Appliances Well Worth
Seeing-PaPers Discussed, Etc.
Another year has rolled by, the date of the
of the convention of American
florists has passed, the deliberations of the
society have been placed on record and the
society has much to be proud of. Although
go young, their efforts in these three years
have been remarkable. The practicability of
the scheme was doubted at first, as it was
thought that florists would not care to travel
long distances to attend gatherings of the
craft, but the fact that there were present
about six hundred members, representing all
sections Of this broad land, was sufficient
answer to any such misgivings.
Thinking that could interest some of the
craft and many others who are interested in
the growing of flowers, I will try and give
anv notes and observations taken on the
routes and at the meeting. Leaving New
Haven on the 100 train for New York one
cannot but notice the Improvements WI CHI
are going on along the line of this road: A
few wears ago who would have
thought that flowers would be a
part of the running expenses OF
a railroad, but such is the fact now. Look
at what is being done on this road and the
Pennsylvania, which has something to be
proud of in the way its stations are beautihed
as we'll as others are doing. While it does
not directly benefit the florist indirectly it
does. for it creates and educates in the peo-
pie an appreciation of flowers, and l am glad
to see that this road is doing all it can to
please its patrons On arrival in New York
i went to the rendezvous at Peter Hender-
sons, and from there we boarded the train
on the Baltimore ana Ohio, leaving at $50.
In a special train of four sleepers my COM
panions IN the car in which was assigned
berth. were as follows: Peter Henderson the
society; VIM. Elliot, of the firm of Young
& Elliott Henry Bennett, England, the orig
inator of the Bennett rose, the ambitious
rival of the Jack rose; John Thorp, the great
chrysanthemum grower; e. Arsmus,
Hoboken, N. j.; S. Young, jr., w: S: Alling,
New York; H. M. Wall, N. y; j; N. Ives,
Danbury; c. E. Allen, Vermont; E. W.
Parsons, 'Westchester; J. w. Bergen, New
York; A. E. Witter, A. Wadley, Alexander
Mcconnell, N. Y; James Tapian, N. Y;
George A Burrough, H. Bryant, A. S. Dow,
Gus Mesenburg, J. G. Esler, E. R. Wesmar,
| Will Siebrechr, Q. Il. Weatherhead and
George A. Dickerman.
On arriving at Philadelphia were met
by the delegation of florists from that city
and fins collation. was served in the same
liberal menner as they bestowed on US when
we were there last year.
There was O detour out of our main route
TO visit the celebrated Luray caverns. The
tod oh mil
of Luray on the Newmarket turnpike in a
conical hill known as Cave hill, which is To-
| Gated near the summit. So much is written
| in regard to this wonderland that it would be
| out of place in this sketch to say mora than
| this, that one wishing to find or experience the
| definition of the words f'grand" and "sub-
lime" in reference to nature can by visit to
/ this underground world grasp the full sense
and meaning through the mirror of the eye,
l for ''seeing is believing" and no one can
| adequately describe the beauties and wonders
l that are here unfolded. Resuming our jour
new the next pleasurable feature of the trip
l was the passing of the Alleghanies. At
l Kiser we took on two extra engines, making
/ three, to climb up the steep grades, which
i are about sixty-three feet to the mile, until
an elevation of upwards of two thousand feet
| is reached; and here the beauties of nature
l were again unfolded. as those who
4 have passed here know. Our next stop wal
at Deer Park, a beautiful place, made famous
by being the stopping place of Presiden
1 Cleveland and wife during their honeymoon
The rest of the journey was without note ex
1 cept the interchange of friendly greeting a.
from time to time delegates boarded the trail
1 from different sections on the route. Ar
irving at Chicago, we were received by the Flo
4 raj club and escorted to the Grand Pacific
Hotel, which was the headquarters.
CONVENTION OPENED.
The First regiment armory had been Sc,
Il cured, the first floor being fitted up for the
use of the exhibition and the upper hall fol
Il the deliberations of the convention. About
500 were present at the opening, one-hal1
being ladies'. AS Mayor Roche was unable
to be present, being out of town, it fell tc
the lot of the vice president, j. G. Vaughan
of Chicago, to read a salutatory address
which was hearty and sincere. Possibly SAID
Mr.. Vaughan, Chicago might be lacking il
some of the graceful courtesies which
/ characterized older communities, but never
I theless her streets are wide, her hotels many
/ and large and her citizens are never so hap
4 py as when cordially welcoming guests and
friends from other parts.
Mr.. William Elliot, of New York, respond
1 ed in o very happy manner, saying they ha6
4 indeed arrived at sunny spot and gratefully
L apnreciated the reception that had been ten
L dered them. AS for the society, it was rap
I idly extending and prospecting.
ANNUAL PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
Mr.. Robert Craig, of Philadelphia, remark
1 ed that the numbers in attendance and thu
1 interest manifested in so young an enterprise
were very gratifying to all concerned. Thu
formation of the society was the very bes
thing that had happened to the florists Of
1 America 1t had stimulated activity in al
I branches of the business, diffusing much
useful information and developing good
1 feeling among its members. When member
1 went from their homes they went, as il
4 were, to school. Those who travelled with
1 open eyes, whether they went to the east Of
4 west, would find something worth knowing
I Then the reading of essays and discussions
/ which take place at the conventions are Of
l great educational value. Its chief object il
| to cultivate among the people of America &
4 taste and love for plants and flowers, and
thus taste for the beautiful. Our public
parks and grounds testify to the increasing
taste for flowers. At almost every railroad
station the surroundings are made pleasant
l by we'll kept lawns and flower beds. Nothing
of the kind could be seen few years ago.
The report of Secretary Lonsdals an6
/ Treasurer Hunt and reports of standing com
mittees were now made. At this point the
4 president announced that serious accident
had happened to one of the members. Otto
Schucht of Sheboygan, Wis, had been rur
over by train and had both legs smashed
\ His injuries might prove fatal The hal
/ was promptly passed around and in few
1 moments the president announced thai
l $136 was subscribed for the wounded man
Papers were read on naturalization by Johr
l Thorp, of New York; by Mr.. E. G.. Hill
Richmond, Ind, on summer propagation o.
roses and list for outdoor purposes with cul
tural notes; by Ernest Asmuss, of West Ho
boken, n j., on foreign bulbs and tubers
by Henry A. Seibrecht, of New Rochelle, N
Y. on orchids; by Jackson Dawson, Boston, or
forcing of hardy shrubs; by j. M. Jordan, o.
st. Eouis, Ind, on retail flower business; by
E. A. Whittle, of Albany, N. Y, on bust
ness methods, and by Charles Anderson, o.
Flushing, N. Y, on roses on buddec
stocks fer. winter blooming. There were
several others to have been delivered bu
omitted on account of the absence of the
parties who were to have read them. AL
of those delivered were very able and of &
very in teresting nature, and showed that the
gentlemen presenting the papers and those
entering into the discussions were masters Of
IL